ACC ~ Revelation 8 v11

TEACHERS OF THE SCRIPTURES SOMETIMES BECOME WAYWARD. TYCONIUS: The rivers and fountains of waters signify the teachers of the divine Scriptures who instruct others but turn themselves away from the way of truth. Indeed, the name Wormwood indicates either the bitterness or the sweetness of sins, which give a present sweetness to those who desire them but afterwards change themselves into bitterness. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.11.

SINNERS ARE EMBITTERED AT THE GLORY OF THE SAINTS. OECUMENIUS: Naomi, who lived long ago, was called “Bitter” because of the many troubles she had with her children and with other circumstances of her life.A sample of the extraordinary plagues is that bitterness that we sinners suffer at that time when we are embittered at the glory of the saints. For although such good things have been prepared for humankind, we ourselves have exchanged the things of the present for those which are to come. I think the falling star refers to a certain wrath of God that makes the waters bitter. He speaks figuratively of people as “waters,” according to that spoken by the prophet, “From the voice of many waters, wonderful are the waves of the sea,” and again, “The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice, the floods lift up their roaring.” Although these things are spoken in figurative speech, it is not impossible that these things and things like them will occur at that time. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.10-11.

THE FALL OF GREAT PERSONS CORRUPTS MANY OTHERS. PRIMASIUS: Since the ruin of those who are great often confuses many, it says that the star fell upon part of the rivers and fountains, and that its name was Wormwood because of its great bitterness. We know that many are weakened by the fall of such persons and are corrupted by an evil imitation of their teaching. [The star] is rightly compared with wormwood, since a small amount of bitterness, when mixed with that which is sweet, will make the whole bitter. Elsewhere the Scriptures make the same point: “I planted you as a chosen vine; how did you turn into the bitterness of the vine of another?”COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.10-11.

THOSE WHO ARE REBAPTIZED DIE FROM THE WATERS. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: A third part of humankind was made like the star that fell upon it. … Many die from the waters. This can manifestly be interpreted to refer to those who are rebaptized. EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.11, HOMILY 6.